Recently, in response to the legislative changes made by the Federal Government, we have been contacted by quite a few people looking for information about how they can start their own cannabis farm or shop, here in Australia.

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More than one thousand Australians search online for ‘marijuana plant’ every month, despite the fact there’s actually no such thing as a ‘marijuana plant’. In fact, there is so much misinformation, so many misconceptions and strange stereotypes about cannabis flying around the web, these strange rumors are often taken as fact. So we decided we would tackle five of the most common misconceptions Aussies have about weed, to help you separate fact from fiction.

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Unfortunately, the comparison between cannabis and alcohol is not simple, and the consequences of statements like ‘alcohol is legal and it’s more dangerous than cannabis’ can be damaging and unhelpful.

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The New South Wales Government announced late last year it would be cracking down on drug driving with a plan to triple the amount of mobile drug tests (MDTs) conducted by 2017. This has become a hot topic of conversation as police units across the country continue to announce increased presence on the roads with more regular and targeted drug testing strategies.

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Illegal Australian weed tends to be produced domestically using two main growing methods known as ‘hydro’ or ‘bush weed’. You’ve probably heard both of these terms before, but what exactly is the difference between the two? We’ve put together a list of the five main differences.

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Whenever drug policy is discussed you can guarantee Portugal will get a mention. There has been a lot of confusion about the changes made to Portugal’s drug laws since they were adopted a decade and a half ago. Many people believe drugs are legal in Portugal, regulated by the government, even taxed, and this is said to have had a range of great health benefits for the country, stopping overdoses, lowering the rate of HIV infections and reducing drug use overall. The reality of the policy in action is not simple, so we thought we’d clear up a few of the misconceptions.

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At some point or another, many parents won’t approve of the company their kids keep. It’s a pretty common story: watching a child gravitate towards a group of people who are using drugs, rebelling against authority of various kinds or who seem self-destructive. It can be some of the most difficult territory you will ever have to navigate as a parent. So what can you do?

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We recently spoke with two people who, on the recommendation of a therapist, have been using cannabis to manage their anxiety and/or depression. One person said their therapist recommended cutting out stimulants like coffee, but weed was encouraged as a great tool to help with anxiety. We were interested and concerned to learn of a health professional giving out this kind of advice, especially to vulnerable people who may just be seeking a quick fix.

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Usually our media wrap up covers a range of different media stories from the month, but as none made a splash quite like the NSW medical cannabis legislative changes, the July media wrap will focus solely on this one issue.

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A popular celebrity’s collaboration with a renowned medical cannabis producer in the USA: the two have come together to produce a range of cannabis-based products designed specifically to help rid women of nasty period cramps and pain.

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We know from the research there are some proven techniques to help overcome cannabis cravings for those trying to quit. Cravings come in waves and tend to only be strong for about 20 minutes, so if someone can push through the danger zone, the cannabis cravings start to become less intense and less frequent. Enter the four D’s: distract, delay, deep-breathing and de-catastrophize. The first of these – distraction – is the most important tool in your mental toolkit to riding the waves of those cravings.

Here are 20 things you can do to entertain your brain and body that don’t involve smoking weed. Maybe you’ve tried some of them before, or perhaps there’s something you’ve always been meaning to try but have never got around to – now’s your chance to give it a go!

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National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities but by Australians from all walks of life.

This year, NAIDOC week is held from 3-10 July, and its’ theme is Songlines: the living narrative of our nation.

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Last month was a somewhat confusing month when it came to cannabis news – publications from mainstream newspapers and popular niche blogs, to YouTube videos, presented the same stories twisted different ways depending on the agenda of the journalist or artist.

We all know research can be twisted and turned a lot of different ways, but as we sifted and sorted through the many cannabis articles published in mainstream media throughout the month, it’s no surprise some people are confused about exactly what cannabis will, won’t or may do to you if you use it!

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Now don’t get us wrong, cannabis may have some positive applications, particularly in medicine – though right now the jury is out on most of those. But for recreational users, the focus on medical use and choosing to ignore possible negative effects, has made it difficult to encourage young people to consider objective information about cannabis, and talking to friends and loved ones about concerns relating to their use has become a bigger challenge than ever before.

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Sometimes called a ‘bong over’ or a ‘stone over’, the after-effects of a big night of smoking weed impact everyone differently. While some don’t feel bad at all the following day, others can experience symptoms such as headaches, ‘cotton-mouth’, or feeling muddled and confused. So why does this happen and how can it be avoided?

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We all know how it feels when we haven’t had enough sleep – our eyes feel gritty, we’re drowsy, we find it hard to concentrate and can generally feel like we’re below par, and unable to function well. But lack of sleep, or lack of good sleep, can mean more than this – it can actually damage our health and cause long-term problems.

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The use of pesticides on cannabis plants is something NCPIC has warned users about regularly in the past. Over recent years, it has become even more concerning as parents consider giving the drug to their children who are suffering from serious illnesses, without being able to be fully aware of what different chemicals may have been used to support the growth of the plant. Pesticides can be highly toxic and have serious side effects, and pesticide testing regimes in the US differ from state to state

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At NCPIC, we often get asked questions like ‘how can I recover my brain-health after I quit using?’ and ‘what kind of damage does marijuana do to the brain?’ While there is no one quick-fix solution and the jury is still out on some potential harms, the good news is it is possible to improve your brain-health over time. We’ve put together a few different ways to help recover from some of the effects of smoking weed and whip your brain back into shape.

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With so much travel and so many election messages to report on, cannabis has taken a bit of a backseat in May. Despite this, there have been some interesting stories in both mainstream and niche publications.

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People mix weed with other drugs for a range of reasons, whether they think it will help with the comedown after a big night on pills or maybe to intensify the high of another substance. While it can seem harmless enough, combining cannabis with other drugs is never a good idea as the results can be dangerous and unpredictable. Here’s why:

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A lot of people who sit on the pro-cannabis side of the fence look at historic anti-cannabis materials such as ‘Reefer Madness’ and label it as outrageous propaganda designed to stigmatise cannabis and its users. And let’s be honest, it was. It was typical of the time it was created, and took ‘cannabis education’ (and we use the term loosely) to an extreme and often unrealistic place.

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We know quitting weed is no cake-walk, but when you’ve been using it for a while and it’s baked into your daily routine, giving up anything demands some serious focus and determination. We spoke with people who’ve been there, who have overcome the various hurdles you face when quitting weed, and asked them for advice on how others can go about it. Here’s what they had to say.

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In the world of medical cannabis, it seems Dr David Caldicott is a rock star!

Well at least that’s how it appeared on the second day of this year’s United In Compassion Medical Cannabis Symposium, where “I’m just David” had the notoriously difficult middle-of-the-day timeslot. A timeslot when most people sneak out early for lunch, switch off, or feign interest while they plan their afternoon.

Not in this case.

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For yet another month, cannabis news dominated headlines in papers around the world. And while the recent legislative victories were cause for celebration for many medical-cannabis advocates, this news was often overshadowed by a growing focus on the commercial and economic opportunities medical legalisation of the drug may present.

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In an effort to find out whether using weed actually helps people with creating original ideas, let’s take a look at a couple of objective studies using objective measures undertaken in this complex area.

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Quitting weed can be rough. You make the decision to do something good for your mind and body and then, as a thank you, you get smacked in the face with some pretty hefty withdrawal symptoms which threaten to throw your best intentions way off-course. So if you’ve noticed you’re snapping at friends, family or co-workers, there are a few simple steps you can take to prevent unnecessary bridge-burning while your body readjusts to life without weed.

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If you’re sporting-inclined, you may know how hard it is to turn up to Saturday cricket with a hangover, standing in the sun all day, dehydrated, nauseous and craving that fundraiser sausage sanga. But what about weed? Does having a toke affect your sporting performance at all? And does it make you more likely to win that half marathon or more likely to not even make it to the training session?

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So you’ve got a few things you want to know about cannabis, but don’t know who you can ask? You’ve heard some weird stories, some strange rumours and some confusing gossip and you’re not sure what to believe – will it affect your ‘down stairs’, can people tell you’re stoned, does it affect your breath?

Here are six questions we’ve been asked by people who smoke weed or are thinking about trying it.

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Your mates might have told you it’s impossible to get addicted to weed. Or it’s only a ‘mentally addictive’ drug and it’s easy to quit if you just have the determination. At NCPIC, we also hear the classic line: “I could quit anytime I wanted to” quite a bit; just as we’ve always heard from tobacco smokers. To help you work out whether your cannabis use might be putting you at risk for addiction and make quitting more difficult if you decided you wanted to go that way – keep on reading.

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It’s a pretty reasonable question to ask: if I smoke weed now, how long afterwards will it be detectable in my system? The answer can help you increase the safety of co-workers and other drivers, protect yourself against breaking the law, and ultimately, just plan ahead.

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In March, research studies in mainstream media were few-and-far-between. Overshadowed by the sheer number of articles focused on the commercial prospects of cannabis, science dropped from the headlines and almost right off the bottom of the screen.

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Some people believe there aren't any problems with using cannabis because they personally haven't experienced any. But this isn't the same for everyone and many people do suffer significant problems from cannabis use.

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Straying from our usual blog style, this month we've compiled some of our most relevant resources for young people who will be attending schoolies, and their parents who might also need to get their cannabis knowledge up-to-date.

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These days, even the smallest of organisations have a social media policy - but does it cover everything? This article looks at the must-know workplace social media etiquette you should share with all your managers and employees.

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Recovering from a traumatic event or crisis can be really hard, but relying on alcohol or drugs to help you get through it could be more detrimental in the long-run. Here are a few steps that may help you rebuild and get back on track.

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June was another action-packed month when it came to cannabis news. Significant funds were allocated to new research, the USA moved to facilitate further study on cannabinoids, and new reports highlighted the shortcomings in evidence to support the USA’s legalisation of medicinal cannabis for some illnesses.

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A lot of the time when we talk about the effects of cannabis, we focus on the links between regular use and mental and physical health. But using weed, or being caught with it, can have far-reaching effects on other aspects of your life.

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May saw a lot of media coverage about cannabis research. Although there was still plenty of coverage about medicinal cannabis, the media also covered stories on research into the effects of cannabis on lung health and driving skills. And it was great to see that some Australian media outlets found the floated idea that cannabis could increase creativity in school kids as crazy as NCPIC does.

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In order to get on top of your finances it's important to create a budget. A good budget should be one that ensures your spending doesn't outweigh your expenses and also identifies any spending habits that could be leading you down a financial black hole.

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Decreasing employee performance, motivation and productivity could be a sign that they have a drug problem. It's therefore important to understand the signs of possible drug use and know how to effectively approach the problem.

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Talking about the dangers of synthetic weed can be really challenging for parents trying to educate their kids about drug use, but it is a really important conversation every family needs to have. Here’s how to get informed and get the conversation started.

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There's a lot of 'research' and 'evidence' out there, but how can you tell the difference between real research, which is the result of a proper scientific study, and poor research, which sometimes produces big claims but is actually meaningless?

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Parenting teenagers when drug use is an issue can be challenging and emotional. In this blog, we look at one of the most common calls to our cannabis helpline and provide some small insights that may go a long way.